Sarah Sjostrom's world record in the 100 freestyle has been broken by Marrit Steenbergen, who swam a 51.68 at the Sette Colli International Trophy in Rome on June 27, 2026.
What happened?
Steenbergen's record-breaking swim bettered Sjostrom's 2017 time of 51.71.
The race details
Marrit Steenbergen was out in 24.98 and back in 26.70, securing the top spot.
The field
Following Steenbergen to the wall were Hong Kong's Siobhan Haughey, Italy's Sara Curtis, and American Gretchen Walsh.
The impact on Sarah Sjostrom
Sjostrom's record had stood since the 2017 World Championships in Budapest.
Steenbergen's performance was not a surprise, given her recent swims of 51.86 and 51.97 at the Mare Nostrum Series.
The Dutchwoman is now the fastest woman in history in the 100 freestyle.
Sjostrom's record was broken by just 0.03 seconds.
The Sette Colli International Trophy was held at the Foro Italico in Rome, a venue that has hosted the World Championships and European Championships.
Curtis set an Italian record with her time of 52.69, beating her prior standard of 53.01.
Steenbergen is a two-time world champion in the 100 freestyle, having won titles in 2024 and 2025.
The 26-year-old Dutchwoman has built momentum on the road to this summer's European Championships in Paris.
Haughey held a slight lead at the midway point, but Steenbergen emerged in front off a huge turn.
The world record swim has cemented Steenbergen's position as a top contender in the 100 freestyle.
Sjostrom's record may be gone, but her legacy in the sport remains.
The European Championships in Paris will be an exciting event, with Steenbergen and other top swimmers competing.
Steenbergen's record-breaking swim will be remembered for a long time, and it will be interesting to see how she performs in upcoming events.